Resumen de Barite: more than a weighting agent
Barite is one of the key ingredients in rat poison, giving yet another example of its use beyond that of a weighting agent in oil extractions. But it is undisputed that the mineral is predominately used in oil-well drilling applications. Its properties, such as insolubility in water, inertness and high specific gravity, enable barite to be used as a weighting agent in drilling operations to control pressure and prevent blow-out, while also providing lubrication. The American Petroleum Institute specification API 13/ISO 13500, which governs barite for drilling purposes, does not refer to any specific mineral, but rather to any material that meets that specification. In practice, this is usually barite. It is finely crushed and mixed with water to form a mixture known as thixotropic mud. The mixture is then pumped into drill stem for oil extraction. Due to the high density property of barite, the pressure exerted by the mixture on the walls of the oil well forces the release of the oil and gas from the ground.
Special glasses are used in computer monitors and television tubes to minimise radiation effects, while barite compounds are also used in friction material on vehicle applications such as clutches and brake pads. Wollastonite is known to be a very good material here, but the use of barite is also significant. Barite is finely crushed for use as fillers in floor coverings (linoleum flooring) and in the manufacture of paper, oil cloth, rubber, cosmetics and so forth. Barite as blanc fixe serves as pigment in paints, enamels, lacquer and plastics. It is the main material in making white pigment (lithopone - a mixture of barium sulphate and zinc sulphide). This pigment is used in making white paint that produces an attractive appearance to wooden artefacts. Barite compounds are also used as catalytic agents in initiating aluminothermic reactions in welding rail tracks.
Barite is also known for different types of chemical uses. There are many compounds which are derived only from barite. Firstly, barium as an element is derived from barite. Other compounds are chloride, titanate, hexaferrite, hydroxide, oxide and so forth. Barium nitrates are used in ceramic glazes and fireworks. Barite is also the source of barium chloride, which softens water, while barium carbonate is used as a pottery glaze, frit and colour and also as a rat poison. Barite compounds such as fluorides are used in infra-red applications for making optics.
